Laura MacCleery, Democracy, Deputy Director
Ms. MacCleery works to enhance the fairness of electoral systems through public funding of elections and to increase judicial independence. Prior to coming to the Brennan Center, she was the Director of Congress Watch at Public Citizen. While at Public Citizen, she worked on oversight of the federal regulatory agencies on transportation safety and other matters, campaign finance and lobbying reform, public funding of elections, and citizen access to the courts. She has appeared on NBC Nightly News, CSPAN-2, and other television broadcasts. She has been quoted by USA Today, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report and numerous other publications. She clerked for Justice Gregory Hobbs of the Supreme Court of Colorado. She received her law degree from Stanford Law School, cum laude, and her B.A. in Political and Social Thought from the University of Virginia, magna cum laude.
Andrew Stengel, Director of National Election Advocacy
Andrew's career in government and politics spans 15 years, beginning as an aide to Governor Mario M. Cuomo. Prior to joining the Brennan Center, he was the Northeast Director for People For the American Way, a non-partisan advocacy group founded by Norman Lear, which focuses on issues of democracy and equality and defends the Constitution against right-wing attacks. Previously, he was an adviser to Eliot Spitzer during his run for attorney general, as well as to state assembly members and labor unions. He has also served as a political director for Harvey Weinstein, founder of Miramax Films.